Gonzalo Rodríguez (footballer, born 1984)

For other people named Gonzalo Rodríguez, see Gonzalo Rodríguez (disambiguation).
In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Rodríguez and the second or maternal family name is Prado.
Gonzalo Rodríguez
Rodríguez with Fiorentina in 2015
Personal information
Full name Gonzalo Javier Rodríguez Prado
Date of birth (1984-04-10) 10 April 1984 (age 39)[1]
Place of birth Buenos Aires, Argentina[1]
Height 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 San Lorenzo 57 (4)
2004–2012 Villarreal 184 (6)
2012–2017 Fiorentina 159 (22)
2017–2020 San Lorenzo 33 (2)
Total 433 (34)
International career
2003–2015 Argentina 7 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Gonzalo Javier Rodríguez Prado (Latin American Spanish: [ɡonˈsalo roˈðɾiɣes]; born 10 April 1984), also known as simply Gonzalo, is an Argentine former professional footballer who played as a centre back.

After starting out at San Lorenzo, he spent most of his career with Villarreal, appearing in 253 official games over the course of eight La Liga seasons (nine goals). He also played five years in the Italian Serie A, with Fiorentina.

Club career

San Lorenzo

Born in Buenos Aires, Gonzalo started playing with San Lorenzo de Almagro. He made his Primera División debut on 26 July 2002 at the age of only 18, against Rosario Central.

At age 20, Rodríguez had already represented Argentina, previously having appeared at the 2003 FIFA World Youth Championship with the under-20 team.

Villarreal

In July 2004, Rodríguez joined Spain's Villarreal CF, being an undisputed starter in his first two seasons and renewing his link for a further five years.[2] However, after the surprise elimination from the UEFA Intertoto Cup at the hands of NK Maribor, in which he was sent off,[3] and a mere month into the league season, he suffered a serious injury, tearing the cruciate ligament in his right knee; after returning to activity in April 2007, he suffered the same injury two months later.[4]

Rodríguez returned to good form in the 2008–09 campaign, often partnering Uruguayan Diego Godín[5][6][7] and appearing in 48 La Liga games in two seasons combined, with Villarreal always qualifying to the UEFA Europa League, finishing fifth and seventh respectively. On 7 April 2011, in the Europa League's quarter-finals against FC Twente, he broke his fibula after a tough challenge by Marc Janko, being rushed to hospital in an ambulance and lost for the remainder of the season.[8]

Fiorentina

In early August 2012, following Villarreal's relegation, Gonzalo joined Italian side ACF Fiorentina along with teammate Borja Valero.[9] He scored six Serie A goals from 35 appearances in his first year, helping to a final fourth place and the subsequent qualification to the Europa League.

In 2015–16, Rodríguez was named new team captain by new manager Paulo Sousa.[10] He made his 200th competitive appearance for the club on 9 April 2017, and marked the occasion with his 25th goal in a 2–2 away draw against U.C. Sampdoria.[11]

Return to San Lorenzo

In July 2017, Rodríguez returned to San Lorenzo on a free transfer.[12] On 23 June 2020, the 36-year-old announced his retirement.[13]

Career statistics

Club

[14]

Club Season League Cup International Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
San Lorenzo 2002–03 27 3 0 0 7 1 34 4
2003–04 30 1 0 0 5 1 35 2
Total 57 4 0 0 12 2 69 6
Villarreal 2004–05 34 2 0 0 15 2 49 4
2005–06 29 0 1 0 11 0 41 0
2006–07 6 0 0 0 2 0 8 0
2007–08 18 0 0 0 2 0 20 0
2008–09 27 2 0 0 8 0 35 2
2009–10 21 0 2 0 7 0 30 0
2010–11 23 1 6 0 10 1 39 2
2011–12 26 1 0 0 5 0 31 1
Total 184 6 9 0 60 3 253 9
Fiorentina 2012–13 35 6 0 0 0 0 35 6
2013–14 33 4 3 0 10 2 46 6
2014–15 30 7 5 0 10 1 45 8
2015–16 35 4 3 0 5 0 43 4
2016–17 26 1 1 0 7 0 34 1
Total 159 22 12 0 32 3 203 25
San Lorenzo 2017–18 14 0 2 0 3 0 19 0
2018–19 10 1 6 0 4 1 20 2
2019–20 9 1 1 0 0 0 10 1
Total 33 2 9 0 7 1 49 3
Career Total 433 34 30 0 111 9 574 43

International

[14]

Argentina
Year Apps Goals
2003 2 1
2004 1 0
2005 2 0
2008 1 0
2015 1 0
Total 7 1

International goals

Scores and results list Argentina's goal tally first.[15]
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 3 February 2003 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, United States  Mexico 1–0 1–0 Friendly

Honours

San Lorenzo

Villarreal

Individual

  • Fiorentina All-time XI[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Gonzalo Rodriguez". Eurosport. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  2. ^ Villarreal refresh Rodríguez contract; UEFA, 27 January 2006
  3. ^ Maribor soar as Villarreal crash out; UEFA, 22 July 2006
  4. ^ Grim news for Gonzalo at Villarreal; UEFA, 14 June 2007
  5. ^ Fabián, Rafael (5 March 2008). "La pareja de moda" [Hip duo]. El Periódico Mediterráneo (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  6. ^ Andrés, A. (19 September 2008). "Old Trafford doctora a la pareja Gonzalo-Godín" [Gonzalo-Godín duo get PhD at Old Trafford]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  7. ^ Ruiz Fájula, Damián (6 July 2010). "Godín vuelve a tiempo" [Godín returns on time]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  8. ^ EL: Villarreal punishes FC Twente; Benfica beats PSV; Sports Illustrated, 7 April 2011
  9. ^ Borja Valero, Gonzalo Rodriguez and Aquilani to Fiorentina Archived 29 December 2016 at the Wayback Machine; ACF Fiorentina, 4 July 2012
  10. ^ Fiorentina, Rodriguez ci crede: "Il sogno di vincere lo Scudetto adesso è concreto" (Fiorentina, Rodriguez a believer: "The dream of winning the Scudetto is now real); Goal, 1 January 2016 (in Italian)
  11. ^ Campanale, Susan (10 April 2017). "Serie A Week 31: Did You Know?". Football Italia. Retrieved 20 April 2017.
  12. ^ "Gonzalo Rodríguez vuelve a San Lorenzo: "Fue una decisión del corazón"" [Gonzalo Rodríguez returns to San Lorenzo: "My decision was from the heart"]. La Nación (in Spanish). 10 July 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2020.
  13. ^ González, Fede (23 June 2020). "Gonzalo Rodríguez se retira del fútbol profesional" [Gonzalo Rodríguez retires from professional football]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Retrieved 29 July 2020.
  14. ^ a b "G. Rodríguez". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 May 2016.
  15. ^ "Rodriguez's goal enough for Argentina to edge Mexico". The Star. 6 February 2003. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  16. ^ Magrini, Matteo (23 August 2016). "Festa al Franchi, presenti e assenti. No eccellenti da Rui Costa, Baggio e Batistuta" [Party at the Franchi, present and absentees. Excellent players, from Rui Costa, to Baggio and Batistuta, decline] (in Italian). Fiorentina.it. Archived from the original on 24 August 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2016.

External links